Court records in Horry County, South Carolina, are maintained by the Clerk of Court and can be accessed through online tools, official court portals, and the clerk's office. HorryCourt.us can help you find publicly available court record information for Horry County. You can also search records through the South Carolina Judicial Department Public Index, the Horry County Clerk of Court office, and other state and county government resources described below.
Horry Court System Overview
Horry County is part of South Carolina's Fifteenth Judicial Circuit, which serves Horry and Georgetown counties. The state court system in South Carolina is unified, meaning all courts operate under the authority of the South Carolina Judicial Department. Circuit Court serves as the court of general jurisdiction, handling major criminal cases (General Sessions) and civil matters (Common Pleas). Family Court operates as a separate division with jurisdiction over domestic and juvenile matters. Magistrate courts handle lower-level criminal offenses, civil disputes up to a statutory dollar limit, and preliminary hearings.
Horry County Courthouse
Courts Serving Horry
Several state and federal courts serve Horry County residents:
Horry County Circuit Court (General Sessions & Common Pleas)
Horry County Family Court
Horry County Magistrate Courts
Horry County has multiple magistrate court locations throughout the county. Contact the Horry County government main line at (843) 915-5000 for the magistrate court nearest to your location.
Horry County Probate Court
Municipal Courts
Several municipalities within Horry County operate their own municipal courts, including the City of Myrtle Beach, City of Conway, City of North Myrtle Beach, and the Town of Surfside Beach. Municipal courts handle ordinance violations and certain misdemeanor offenses within their city limits. Contact the individual municipality for court addresses and phone numbers.
U.S. District Court — District of South Carolina (Florence Division)
U.S. Bankruptcy Court — District of South Carolina
What Types of Cases Horry Courts Hear
Courts serving Horry County handle a wide range of case types across multiple divisions:
- Criminal: Felonies, misdemeanors, infractions, DUI, drug offenses, and preliminary hearings
- Civil: Lawsuits, contract disputes, personal injury, and small claims
- Family Law: Divorce, custody, child support, adoption, paternity, and protection orders
- Probate: Estates, wills, guardianships, and conservatorships
- Juvenile: Delinquency proceedings and child protective cases
- Traffic: Moving violations, parking citations, and license-related matters
District Court Cases in Horry
In South Carolina, Circuit Court functions as the trial court of general jurisdiction — equivalent to what other states call "district court." In Horry County, the Court of General Sessions hears all felony criminal cases, including those bound over from magistrate court after a preliminary hearing. The Court of Common Pleas handles civil cases where the amount in controversy exceeds the magistrate court's jurisdictional limit. Circuit Court also hears appeals from magistrate and municipal courts. Cases are assigned to circuit judges who rotate through the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit. The Horry County Clerk of Court manages all filings, maintains case records, and coordinates court schedules for both General Sessions and Common Pleas.
Magistrate Court Cases in Horry
Horry County magistrate courts handle a high volume of cases, including:
- Misdemeanor criminal offenses punishable by up to 30 days in jail or a fine up to $500 (or up to three years for certain offenses where jurisdiction is conferred by statute)
- Preliminary hearings for felony charges
- Civil cases with amounts in controversy up to $7,500
- Small claims cases — generally civil disputes where the amount does not exceed $7,500, with simplified procedures
- Traffic violations and DUI arraignments
- Restraining orders and certain emergency protective orders
Given Horry County's large population and tourism-driven activity, magistrate courts handle significant caseloads, particularly for traffic offenses and misdemeanors. You can pay certain traffic tickets and court fines online through the state payment portal.
Family Law, Probate, and Juvenile Matters in Horry
Family Law
Family Court in Horry County handles divorce, child custody, child support, visitation, paternity, adoption, termination of parental rights, and orders of protection. Divorce filings are made through the Clerk of Court — a divorce packet with required forms is available on the county website. Additional family court forms are also posted online. Certified copies of divorce reports can be obtained from the South Carolina Department of Public Health Vital Records office.
Probate
The Horry County Probate Court handles decedent estates, wills, guardianships, conservatorships, and trust matters. Probate Court operates independently from Circuit Court and has its own judge. Contact the Probate Court at (843) 915-5370 for filing requirements and fee schedules.
Juvenile
Juvenile cases — including delinquency proceedings and child protective matters under the South Carolina Children's Code — are heard in Family Court. Juvenile records are confidential under South Carolina law and are not available through public case search tools.
How Cases Move Through the Horry Court System
- Filing or initiation: Criminal cases begin with an arrest or a warrant. Civil cases start with a complaint or petition filed with the Clerk of Court. Family cases begin with a petition (e.g., complaint for divorce, petition for custody).
- Assignment: The Clerk of Court assigns a case number. Criminal General Sessions cases are assigned to a rotating circuit judge. Family Court cases are assigned to a Family Court judge.
- Initial hearing: In criminal cases, the defendant appears for a bond hearing or arraignment. In civil cases, a scheduling order or conference is issued. Family Court cases may include a temporary hearing for emergency relief.
- Pre-trial phase: Parties exchange discovery, file motions, and may engage in mediation or plea negotiations. In General Sessions, the Solicitor's Office handles prosecution and may offer plea agreements.
- Trial or resolution: Cases proceed to a bench or jury trial, or are resolved through a plea, settlement, consent order, or default judgment.
- Post-judgment: Criminal cases may involve sentencing, appeals, or expungement proceedings. Civil cases may require enforcement actions or appeals to the South Carolina Court of Appeals.
Fines and fees for General Sessions cases can be paid through the Horry County online payment portal.
Court Administration, Local Rules, and Public Access in Horry
The Fifteenth Judicial Circuit is administered by the Chief Administrative Judge, who oversees scheduling and case management for Horry and Georgetown counties. The Horry County Clerk of Court manages day-to-day court operations, including record-keeping and public access to filings.
Public Access to Court Records
Court records in South Carolina are generally open to the public under the South Carolina Freedom of Information Act (Title 30). You can search court case information online through the South Carolina Judicial Department Public Index. Certain records are restricted or sealed, including:
- Juvenile proceedings
- Adoption records
- Expunged records
- Records sealed by court order
- Certain family court matters involving minors
To request copies of court documents, contact the Clerk of Court office. Certified copies may require a fee. FOIA requests for law enforcement records can be directed to the Horry County Police Public Information Office.
Attending Hearings
Most court proceedings in Horry County are open to the public and held in person at the courthouse in Conway. Some hearings may be conducted by video or telephone at the court's discretion. Contact the Clerk of Court at (843) 915-5080 to confirm whether a particular hearing will be held remotely.
Court Records and Related Court Resources in Horry
- Court case search: The South Carolina Judicial Department Public Index allows you to search Circuit, Family, and Common Pleas case records by name or case number.
- Court rosters and dockets: Horry County posts court rosters and docket information through its online services portal.
- Court forms: Download civil and family court forms, cover sheets, and the divorce packet from the Clerk of Court forms page.
- Clerk of Court office: For public records requests, certified copies, or case information, contact the Horry County Clerk of Court at (843) 915-5080.
- Criminal history search: SLED CATCH (Citizens Access to Criminal Histories) provides a name-based search for South Carolina criminal records.
- Detention center bookings: View recent bookings and releases at the J. Reuben Long Detention Center.
- Warrant information: Contact the Horry County Sheriff's Office Warrant Division at (843) 915-8347.
- Inmate search (state): The South Carolina Department of Corrections inmate search shows information on inmates currently incarcerated in state facilities.
- Offender search (probation/parole): The SC Department of Probation, Parole and Pardon Services offender search lets you look up individuals under state supervision.
- Sex offender registry: Search the Horry County Sex Offender Registry maintained by the Sheriff's Office and SLED.
- Vital records: Marriage certificates and divorce reports are available from the South Carolina Department of Public Health Vital Records office.
- Land and property records: The Horry County Register of Deeds maintains property records, and the county provides an online land records search tool.
- Historical records: The SC Department of Archives and History offers online access to historical court and genealogy records.